Spanish mastiff: description of the breed, character, photos and reviews of the owners

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

10-15 years ago in Russia almost nothing was known about the Spanish mastiff dog breed. The photo of these animals is amazing. These are good-natured and loving giants. Now the breed is just gaining popularity and is gaining more and more sympathy from both professional dog breeders and ordinary amateurs.

Versions of occurrence

It is believed that the ancestors of these huge dogs lived in Spain 3 thousand years ago. Mentions of them are recorded in ancient manuscripts.

There are several versions of the appearance of this breed. There is an assumption that the ancestors of modern mastiffs were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenician merchants on ships. According to another version, the breed originates from ancient dogs that came to the Pyrenees with the Roman military legions. But, according to historians, the local tribes already had their own large fighting dogs by that time. The next assumption is that the Spanish Mastiff breed originated from large guard dogs that roamed along with the tribes living in Eastern Europe and Asia.

The number of these large animals increased due to the development of woolen sheep breeding. For good protection of the herd,consisting of a thousand heads, 5 dogs were needed. Manuel del Rio wrote about this in his Shepherd's Life. If we take into account the number of sheep in the middle of the 18th century, it turns out that at least 20 thousand mastiffs should have guarded them. The largest specimens were found near Lyon and Extremadura.

History of the modern breed

Until the beginning of the 20th century, no one was engaged in breeding mastiffs. Only in 1906, with the birth of the Machaco puppy, the history of this breed officially begins. This was made a corresponding entry in the Spanish tribal book.

The breed was first described in 1929. Then it was called "mountain Spanish mastiff". The Trasumansia kennel, owned by Luis Esquiro, whose goal was to find the largest dogs of this breed and improve it as much as possible, examined the mountainous regions of northwestern Spain in the 50s of the last century. As a result, one of the largest individuals was a dog named Navarro, who was presented at the Madrid Agricultural Exhibition in 1959

In the 60s of the last century, another kennel dealing with Spanish mastiffs appeared - "El Pinotar" Amadeo Alejandra. His dogs were very popular in the 80s.

It should be noted that these two kennels for 40 years have managed to lay the foundation for the modern Spanish Mastiff breed. This is despite the fact that their owners had different points of view on the issue of ideal standards.

Appearance in Russia

The Spanish Mastiff was first brought into the country in 1995. And almostsix months was the only representative of this breed. Then Svetlana Valentinovna Dorogova delivered several more animals from the Czech Republic to the Dorsdorf nursery. It is from this moment that the Spanish mastiffs in Russia are counted. A year later, the first puppies appeared in the Rare Breeds kennel club, which was recorded in the breeding book.

Now the number of these animals in the country is small. Usually at exhibitions there are no more than three individuals. Despite this, it can be said that the Spanish Mastiff dog breed is slowly but surely gaining attention and popularity. The day is not far off when its representatives will collect large rings.

Description

Affectionate and plush giant. This is what the Spanish Mastiff is. The description of the breed, perhaps, should begin with what a person feels when he first sees this animal. First of all, it is striking in its majesty and dignity. The growth of such a dog is more than 77 cm. That is what those who decided to purchase this dog say.

She has a well-proportioned body with deep breasts and strong bones. The body is rectangular, not square. The dog's body must necessarily give the impression of a huge force contained in it. The abdomen should not be sunken. Her loin and croup are broad and powerful.

The head is what is considered the main difference between the Spanish Mastiff and other related breeds. In this case, there is no pronounced transition from the forehead to the muzzle. The skull is rather broad. A characteristic feature is loose wrinkles locatedoutside of the eyes, which gives the muzzle an unusual expression.

The skin is loose and thick, creating volume around the neck, chest and bottom with its folds. The coat, rather close to the body, is slightly wavy and has a length of no more than 6 cm. The undercoat is thick and dense. It perfectly protects the animal from frost and cold wind.

Coat color can be any, but the most common is black, brindle and yellow. Interestingly, the latter can range from almost white to red tones.

It must be said that the Spanish Mastiff, whose description would be incomplete without mentioning their unusual so-called cat's paw, may have 1-2 dewclaws. This feature is very advantageous, as it means good connections.

Spanish mastiffs mature quite late: females at 2-3 years old, and males a year later. According to the owners, dogs have excellent he alth, but there are diseases that occur in this particular breed. In order for the animal to be in good shape, you should constantly give him physical activity. Life expectancy averages 10-12 years.

The dog tolerates almost any climate well, the only limitation is that it is simply unrealistic to keep him in a standard Russian apartment. Which, in fact, is confirmed by the numerous reviews of the owners.

Character

Mastiffs are very kind by nature. They completely lack unmotivated aggression. At night, their guarding instincts are somewhat aggravated,which is not surprising, since their ancestors protected huge herds of sheep from the attack of packs of wolves. But it should be noted that mastiffs will never attack without warning. The signal to attack can be a growl or a deep low bark.

Loy alty is another character trait of these dogs. As the owners say, mastiffs react very subtly to the manifestation of love and affection for them. They try to protect those who are weaker than them, such as children or the elderly.

Mastiffs are freedom-loving. They need more space. They are not suitable for living in apartments, even if they are large enough. It is best if it is a private house with a nice yard.

Education

As mentioned above, a beautiful and good-natured character is the main distinguishing feature of the representatives of the Spanish Mastiff breed. Dog training also plays an important role. It is thanks to him that the animal gets along well with all household members, including cats, decorative rodents and birds.

With the right upbringing, these dogs can become not only reliable friends, but also excellent protectors for children. Those who have this dog in the house unanimously claim that mastiffs are very reverent nannies. For example, if a child falls, they try very carefully to pick him up or serve him as a support. These good-natured giants can allow children to do anything, endure even the most unthinkable antics.

Dogs need to be trained and taught different commands. But you should not demand from them their literal fulfillment. Usually they intuitively feel what the owner wants from him and act as they see fit. Also, don't forget that Mastiffs love to be praised for their commands.

Grooming

Both professionals and dog lovers call grooming the process of grooming. By constantly carrying out such a procedure for their pet, the owners care not only about its beauty, but also about its he alth. Grooming promotes good fur growth and also maintains the tone of the animal's skin.

Despite the fact that the Spanish Mastiff is a fairly clean dog that does not allow itself to climb into the mud and puddles, it is necessary to wash and dry the paws after walking.

Usually their hair does not fall off, so they do not need to be combed every day. But if the dog got caught in the rain, upon returning home, it is still worth combing it thoroughly. This is done with a special brush or comb in the direction of hair growth, starting from the head. As for puppies, they are practically not combed, but adult dogs simply need it.

Bathing

Professionals do not advise doing this too often. It will be enough to bathe the mastiff as it gets dirty. Or no more than once every two weeks. As you know, frequent water procedures lead to the washing off of the natural fat layer, as a result of which the skin glands begin to produce it in greater quantities. This can lead to overdrying of the skin, the appearance of dandruff on the coat, and sometimes even to various dermatologicaldiseases. Therefore, frequent bathing can do more harm than good.

In the cold season, when frosts come, it is better not to bathe the dog at all. It is necessary to wait until the heat, until the molting period stops.

Preparing for the exhibition

Some owners lead very eventful lives with their pets. It's about visiting exhibitions. In order for the dog's coat to look well-groomed, they should be bathed well in advance of the event, since the grease is restored only after 2-3 days. In addition, a few hours before the show, it is recommended to treat wool with a specially designed spray texture. It significantly improves the appearance of fur, gives it shine, restores volume and refreshes.

In winter, when dog shows are often held, and bathing is not recommended, the Spanish Mastiff with its thick coat really needs to be thoroughly cleaned from various kinds of pollution. In such cases, dry shampoo is used. It is very convenient to use, in addition, it does not have any harmful effect on the skin of the animal, it has a rather pleasant smell.

This shampoo is sold as a spray, powder or powder. After its application, it is only necessary to carefully comb out the coat. I must say that shampoos, which include conditioner or protein, are the most preferable to choose. After applying it, the dog will look neat and well-groomed, and the coat will acquire volume and a beautiful shine.

And finally, advice: start caringfor dogs of the Spanish Mastiff breed, the photo of which is presented in this article, it is necessary from an early age so that, as puppies, they get used to various cosmetic procedures. Then the animals will be calm and their owners will be happy.

Impressions of the breed

Good character, reliable protector, loving and gentle animal - all this is the Spanish Mastiff. Feedback from dog owners is generally positive. People say that a more devoted friend is simply not to be found. In addition, they are excellent watchmen, but just like that, without a reason, they do not bark. And if your pet's voice is still heard, it's best to go and check if anyone has violated the boundaries of your private property.

Experienced dog breeders unanimously say that Spanish mastiffs are dogs for we althy and self-confident owners.

Prices

As mentioned above, the Spanish Mastiff, whose price on the supply market fluctuates all the time, is not a cheap dog. The average cost of a puppy of this breed is from 65 to 90 thousand rubles. Get yourself such a big and kind animal. And positive emotions will be guaranteed to you.

You can buy a Spanish Mastiff puppy by reading private ads, as well as directly from kennels that breed this breed.